Almost half of the Flemish people want as little as possible to do with people of foreign origin. That despite the fact that only a minority regularly comes into contact with strangers.

40% thinks Muslims are a threat to our culture

45% just want people of Belgian origin in the district

47% believe that migrants only want social security benefits

Almost half of the Flemish do not want immigrants in their own neighborhood. That's one of the findings of the ‘Flemish Migration and Integration Monitor’, writes ‘De Morgen’.

The research department of the Flemish government asked Flemings between 18 and 85 years old about the composition of their ideal neighbourhood. Forty-five percent said they wanted to live only with persons of Belgian origin in a neighbourhood. Another 38 percent prefer a neighbourhood with "more people of Belgian origin than of foreign origin".

47 percent of those surveyed also think that immigrants "come here to benefit from our social security”. Regarding Muslims, 40 percent say "they are a threat to our culture and customs." Half of the Flemish see the presence of different cultures as an enrichment of our society.

More than half of the Flemish people (51 %) never have contact with people of foreign origin in their neighborhood. Fewer than three out of ten Flemish people say they deal with persons of foreign origin and chat with them at least once per month.

"Unknown is unloved," said Jozef De Witte, Director of the “Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism”. He puts the responsibility on failed migration and integration." Instead of accepting migration and leading it in the right direction, the Flemings are still in the denial phase. We consider ourselves superior. Simultaneously, we have never been so afraid to go down."

The study will be presented at a conference of the ‘Centre for Integration and the Flemish Parliament’. ( Belga / TV )